There are two types of Kudu, one is the Greater Kudu and the other called the Lesser Kudu. In this report i will focus on the Greater Kudu.
The Kudu's habitat:
The greater Kudu. otherwise know as Tragelaphus strepsiceros is found in the southern and easter regions of Africa. This large area however, betrays the fact that due to hunting, a declining habbitat and deforestation. The Kudu's habitat will include nearly everywhere with a constant supply with water but it is prefered to have dry riverbeds and rocky hillsides. Open areas will tend to be avoided by the Kudu but they will ocasionally enter such a plain if it has a large number of bushes.
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order:
Artiodactyla
Family:
Bovidae
Sub-family:
Bovinae
Genus:
Tragelaphus
Species
T. Strepsiceros
Structural adaptions:
1. The male Kudu's horns are used during violent encounters. when attacking another male Kudu the pair would interlock their horns untill one of the Kudu's admit defeat. if athe pair are unable to remove their horns from the other the pair can both die although this is very rare. This form of encounter asserts a kudu'd dominance over another and would ensure mating and food.
2. When escaping a predator in shrub/bushland the long legs of the Kudu are used when hopping over the bushes and shrubs to escape their preadators
behavioural adaptions:
1. Kudu's avoid the open plains because of the lack of cover provided in these areas. the area they inhabit consists of predators such as lions, leopards and occasionally cheetah which move much faster over flat open areas and have a larger stamina than the Kudu so bush/scrublands are essential for the Kudu to escape predators.
The Kudu
There are two types of Kudu, one is the Greater Kudu and the other called the Lesser Kudu. In this report i will focus on the Greater Kudu.
The Kudu's habitat:
The greater Kudu. otherwise know as Tragelaphus strepsiceros is found in the southern and easter regions of Africa. This large area however, betrays the fact that due to hunting, a declining habbitat and deforestation. The Kudu's habitat will include nearly everywhere with a constant supply with water but it is prefered to have dry riverbeds and rocky hillsides. Open areas will tend to be avoided by the Kudu but they will ocasionally enter such a plain if it has a large number of bushes.
Structural adaptions:
1. The male Kudu's horns are used during violent encounters. when attacking another male Kudu the pair would interlock their horns untill one of the Kudu's admit defeat. if athe pair are unable to remove their horns from the other the pair can both die although this is very rare. This form of encounter asserts a kudu'd dominance over another and would ensure mating and food.
2. When escaping a predator in shrub/bushland the long legs of the Kudu are used when hopping over the bushes and shrubs to escape their preadators
behavioural adaptions:
1. Kudu's avoid the open plains because of the lack of cover provided in these areas. the area they inhabit consists of predators such as lions, leopards and occasionally cheetah which move much faster over flat open areas and have a larger stamina than the Kudu so bush/scrublands are essential for the Kudu to escape predators.
2. When food is plentifull during the rainy season herds disperse but when food becomes sparser as a more hotter climate arrives herds again become to form around areas where there are high concentrations of food.
Physiological:
1.
Bibliography:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Kudu
2. http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Tragelaphus_strepsiceros.html